Interchangeable Chamber and Barrel System

ABSTRACT

An interchangeable chamber and barrel system for allowing an end user to easily change a chamber body and/or a barrel for a firearm without the assistance of a gunsmith. The interchangeable chamber and barrel system generally includes an interchangeable chamber body having a chamber that is removably connectable to a receiver of a firearm and an interchangeable barrel that is removably connected to the chamber body opposite of the receiver. The chamber body and/or the barrel may be changed on the firearm at any time based on the preference of the end user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

I hereby claim benefit under Title 35, United States Code, Section 120of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/601,545 filed Jan. 21, 2015. Thisapplication is a continuation of the Ser. No. 14/601,545 application.The Ser. No. 14/601,545 application is currently pending. The Ser. No.14/601,545 application is hereby incorporated by reference into thisapplication.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a firearm barrel and morespecifically it relates to an interchangeable chamber and barrel systemfor allowing an end user to easily change a chamber body and/or a barrelfor a firearm without the assistance of a gunsmith.

Description of the Related Art

Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should inno way be considered as an admission that such related art is widelyknown or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

A conventional gun barrel is an elongated single piece of metal with achamber that receives the ammunition cartridge and a bore that receivesthe fired bullet of the ammunition. The barrel of a rifle becomesdamaged after repeated firings due to various factors including the heatgenerated to propel the bullet through the bore of the barrel and wearby the bullet passing through the bore. After repeated usage, therifling in the bore is diminished thereby reducing the accuracy of therifle. When the rifling in the bore has deteriorated, the barrel isoften times referred to as “shot out”. In addition, cracks, pits andfissures can develop at the rear end of the bore where the heat is themost intense sometimes referred to as the “throat” of the barrel. If theuser wants the rifle to shoot accurately at a target, the barrel needsto be replaced. In addition, if the user of the rifle wants to changethe caliber of bullet fired they need to replace the barrel which hasthe appropriate sized chamber and bore.

To replace a rifle barrel and/or change a chamber, a gunsmith is neededto machine the barrel to fit the action and to cut the chamber in thebarrel itself. Hence, replacing a rifle barrel is expensive and timeconsuming depending upon the backload of work the gunsmith has which issometimes 6 months to 12 months. The end user of the rifle is thereforenot able to use the firearm until the new barrel is fabricated andinstalled by the gunsmith.

To further complicate matters, it is difficult for a gunsmith toaccurately machine a chamber and a bore into a barrel. Since the throatof the bore has to be cut one or more inches into the barrel because ofthe chamber, it is difficult to maintain concentricity between thethroat of the bore and the chamber because cutting into the barrelseveral inches often times cuts off center because bores typically havea curvature to them. Because of the resulting curvature of the bore andthe throat of the bore, the barrel has a decreased accuracy andincreased inconsistency. Furthermore, because the curvature of the boreis different for each gun barrel is different, a new barrel will notshoot the same as the prior barrel on the firearm.

In addition, machining costs for a new gun barrel are higher for agunsmith because they are not able to use a CNC (computer numericalcode) machine for machining the chamber. In addition, if the barrel, thebore and/or the chamber is damaged during the machining of the gunbarrel, the entire gun barrel must be discarded resulting in wastedmaterial and time.

Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a needfor a new and improved interchangeable chamber and barrel system forallowing an end user to easily change a chamber body and/or a barrel fora firearm without the assistance of a gunsmith.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to an interchangeable chamber and barrelsystem which includes an interchangeable chamber body having a chamberthat is removably connectable to a receiver of a firearm and aninterchangeable barrel that is removably connected to the chamber bodyopposite of the receiver. The chamber body and/or the barrel may bechanged on the firearm at any time based on the preference of the enduser.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features ofthe invention in order that the detailed description thereof may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are additional features of theinvention that will be described hereinafter and that will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, beforeexplaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction or to the arrangements of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced andcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of thedescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention fullyassembled as part of a firearm.

FIG. 2 is an exploded upper perspective view of the present inventionwith respect to a firearm.

FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the chamber body illustrating theouter opening.

FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the chamber body illustrating theopening to the chamber.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the chamber body.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the chamber body illustrating the outeropening.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the chamber body illustrating the chamber.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an upper perspective view of the barrel illustrating the innerend and the bore.

FIG. 10 is an upper perspective view of the chamber body attached to thebarrel.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a magnified cross sectional view of FIG. 11 illustrating thechamber body connected to the receiver and the barrel.

FIG. 13 is a magnified cross sectional view of FIG. 11 illustrating anammunition cartridge within the chamber of the chamber body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Overview

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1through 13 illustrate an interchangeable chamber and barrel system 10,which comprises an interchangeable chamber body 20 having a chamber 24that is removably connectable to a receiver 14 of a firearm and aninterchangeable barrel 30 that is removably connected to the chamberbody 20 opposite of the receiver 14. The chamber body 20 and/or thebarrel 30 may be changed on the firearm at any time based on thepreference of the end user. The chamber body 20 is preferablyconstructed of a first unitary piece of metal and the barrel 30 ispreferably constructed of a second unitary piece of metal that ismanufactured separate of the first unitary piece of metal. It is furtherpreferable that the chamber body 20 and the barrel 30 are manufacturedusing a CNC machine to assist in reducing manufacturing costs. Thepresent invention may be utilized with various types of firearmsincluding, but not limited to, rifles, pistols and shotguns. The presentinvention may also be utilized in bolt 18 action, lever action, pumpaction, revolver or semi-automatic types of firearms. The presentinvention may also be utilized with various types of gun barrels 30including, but not limited to, smoothbore 33 and rifled.

B. Interchangeable Chamber Body

The chamber body 20 has a first end 22 and a second end 26 asillustrated in FIGS. 3 through 8 of the drawings. The first end 22 ofthe chamber body 20 is removably attachable to the receiver 14 of thefirearm thereby allowing removal and changing of the chamber body 20with respect to the rifle. The first end 22 of the chamber body 20 ispreferably removably attached to a receiver opening 16 within thereceiver 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Thereceiver 14 is attached to the firearm body 12 (e.g. wood, composite,metal) and the receiver 14 houses many of the moving components of therifle as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. For example, onetype of rifle uses a bolt 18 with a lever that is rotatably and slidablypositioned within the receiver 14 to extend an ammunition cartridge 19into the chamber 24 of the chamber body 20 and to retract the ammunitioncartridge 19 from the chamber 24.

The chamber body 20 has an elongated structure with a concentriclongitudinal axis. The external cross sectional shape of the chamberbody 20 is preferably circular as best illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 ofthe drawings, but may have various other types of shapes (e.g. square,rectangular, oval). The length of the chamber body 20 measured from thefirst end 22 to the second end 26 is at least the length of the chamber24 combined with the length required for the end connectors which arediscussed herein. The chamber body 20 is constructed of a rigid materialsuch as, but not limited to, metal. The chamber body 20 is preferablymanufactured using a CNC machine or other efficient machining process.

The first end 22 of the chamber body 20 includes a first connector thatis adapted to be removably connected to a receiver 14 of a firearmthereby allowing the interchangeability of the chamber body 20 withrespect to the firearm. The first connector may be comprised of anyconnector device suitable for securely attaching the chamber body 20 ina non-movable manner to the receiver 14 of the firearm to preventmovement during firing of the firearm and that also allows for releasingof the chamber body 20 from the receiver 14 when the user desires tochange the chamber body 20 on the firearm. It is preferable that thefirst connector is comprised of a threaded structure that threadablyconnects to a corresponding threaded structure on the receiver 14. It isfurther preferable that the first connector is comprised of outerthreading 23 surrounding at least a portion of the first end 22 that isadapted to threadably connect to a corresponding interiorly threadedreceiver opening 16 in the receiver 14. It can be appreciated that anend of the receiver 14 may have exterior threading and the firstconnector for the first end 22 has interior threading 29 that threadablyconnect to one another alternatively.

The second end 26 of the chamber body 20 includes a second connectorthat is adapted to be removably connected to an inner connector of theinner end 31 of the barrel 30, wherein the inner end 31 of the barrel 30is at the end of the barrel 30 opposite of the muzzle end 35.

The second connector may be comprised of any connector device suitablefor securely attaching the barrel 30 in a non-movable manner to thechamber body 20 to prevent movement during firing of the firearm andthat also allows for releasing of the barrel 30 from the chamber body 20when the user desires to change the barrel 30 on the firearm. It ispreferable that the second connector is comprised of a threadedstructure that threadably connects to a corresponding threaded structureon the receiver 14. It is further preferable the second connector iscomprised of interior threading 29 within the second opening 28 andwherein the inner connector of the barrel 30 is comprised of outerthreading 32 23 that threadably connects to the interior threading 29 ofthe second connector. However, it can be appreciated that the secondconnector may be comprised of exterior threading surrounding at least aportion of the second end 26 that is adapted to threadably connect to acorresponding interiorly threaded opening in the inner end 31 of thebarrel 30.

As shown in FIGS. 3 through 4 of the drawings, the chamber body 20preferably includes a plurality of gripping members 21 for selectiveengagement by a tool such as, but not limited to, a spanner wrench.Various other structures may be used on the chamber body 20 to allow fortightening and removal of the chamber body 20 with respect to thereceiver 14 of the firearm.

A first opening 25 extends into the first end 22 of the chamber body 20as best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7 of the drawings. The first opening25 has a diameter sufficient to receive the caliber of ammunitioncartridge 19 intended to be used on the firearm. A chamber 24 is withinthe chamber body 20 and is connected to the first opening 25. Thechamber 24 has a size and shape designed to snugly receive the caliberof ammunition cartridge 19 intended to be used on the firearm as bestillustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings. The chamber 24 receives at leasta portion of the ammunition cartridge 19.

A second opening 28 extends into the second end 26 of the chamber body20 opposite of the first opening 25, wherein the second opening 28 isconnected to the first opening 25 by the chamber 24. The second opening28 extends inwardly to a distal end of the neck of the chamber 24 asillustrated in FIG. 8. The diameter of the second opening 28 ispreferably larger than a diameter of the neck of the chamber 24 asillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8 of the drawings.

It can be appreciated that the first opening 25 may be part of thechamber 24 to provide a consistent diameter from the first opening 25 tothe body portion of the chamber 24 as illustrated in FIG. 8. The chamber24 further includes a tapering shoulder that reduces the diameter of thepassage to the size of the neck of the chamber 24 as further shown inFIG. 8 of the drawings. The first opening 25, the chamber 24, the secondopening 28 and the bore 33 of the barrel 30 are concentric when thereceiver 14, chamber body 20 and barrel 30 are connected together.

C. Interchangeable Barrel

The barrel 30 has an inner end 31, a muzzle end 35 opposite of the innerend 31 and a bore 33 extending between the inner end 31 and the muzzleend 35 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 9 of the drawings. The barrel 30may have various lengths used for various types of firearms such asrifles and pistols. The barrel 30 is preferably constructed of a unitarypiece of metal, but various other types of suitable materials may beutilized to construct the barrel 30.

The bore 33 extends through the inner end 31 to the muzzle end 35 of thebarrel 30 through a discharge opening 34 that releases the bullet and ispreferably concentric with respect to the barrel 30. The bore 33 has adiameter sized to the caliber of bullet being fired through the bore 33.The bore 33 of the barrel 30 is preferably rifled having a plurality ofhelical lands and helical grooves.

The barrel 30 is comprised of an elongated structure having alongitudinal axis. The barrel 30 may have various cross sectional shapessuch as conventional gun barrels 30, but it is preferable that thebarrel 30 has a circular cross sectional shape.

The inner connector may be comprised of any connector device suitablefor securely attaching the barrel 30 in a non-movable manner to thechamber body 20 to prevent movement during firing of the firearm andthat also allows for releasing of the barrel 30 from the chamber body 20when the user desires to change the barrel 30 on the firearm. It ispreferable that the inner connector is comprised of a threaded structurethat threadably connects to a corresponding threaded structure on thereceiver 14. It is further preferable that the inner connector iscomprised of outer threading 32 surrounding at least a portion of theinner end 31 of the barrel 30 that is adapted to threadably connect tocorresponding interior threading 29 of the second opening 28 within thechamber body 20. It can be appreciated that the second end 26 of thechamber body 20 may have exterior threading and the inner connector forthe inner end 31 of the barrel 30 is comprised of an interiorly threadedopening extending into the inner end 31 of the barrel 30 that threadablyconnects to the exterior threading.

D. Operation of Preferred Embodiment

In use, the user selects the desired caliber of ammunition cartridge 19they desire to fire and the desired length of barrel 30 to use for theirfirearm. The user then connects the barrel 30 in a threaded manner tothe chamber body 20 as illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings. The userthen connects the chamber body 20 (along with the barrel 30) in athreaded manner to the receiver 14 using a tool. It can be appreciatedthat the chamber body 20 may be first attached to the receiver 14followed by the barrel 30 being attached to the chamber body 20. Oncethe chamber body 20 is fully secured to the receiver 14 of the firearm,the user is able to insert an ammunition cartridge 19 within the chamber24 and fire the ammunition cartridge 19 thereby forcing the bulletthrough the bore 33 of the barrel 30.

After repeated usage, the bore 33 of the barrel 30 may become worn andrequire replacement. The user simply purchases a new barrel 30, removesthe original barrel 30 from the chamber body 20, and then installs thenew barrel 30 onto the chamber body 20. In addition, the chamber body 20may become worn or damaged requiring replacement. Similar to replacingthe barrel 30, the user purchases a new chamber body 20, removes the oldchamber body 20 from the receiver 14 of the rifle and the barrel 30, andthen installs the new chamber body 20 between the receiver 14 and thebarrel 30. These processes may be used to replace the barrel 30 and/orthe chamber body 20 at any time for any reason.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materialssimilar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods andmaterials are described above. All publications, patent applications,patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated byreference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law andregulations. The present invention may be embodied in other specificforms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof,and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered inall respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilizedwithin the description are for convenience only and have no legal orlimiting effect.

What is claimed is:
 1. An interchangeable chamber for a firearm,comprising: a chamber body having a first end and a second end, whereinthe first end of the chamber body includes a first connector adapted tobe connected to a receiver of a firearm and wherein the second endincludes a second connector adapted to be connected to a barrel; a firstopening extending into the first end of the chamber body; a secondopening extending into the second end of the chamber body; and a chamberwithin the chamber body, wherein the chamber includes a body portionextending forward from a first end of the chamber, a tapering shoulderextending forwardly from the body portion, and a neck extendingforwardly from the tapering shoulder to a second end of the chamber,wherein the body portion of the chamber is adapted to receive a casebody of an ammunition cartridge, wherein the tapering shoulder of thechamber is adapted to receive a case neck of the ammunition cartridge,wherein the neck of the chamber is adapted to completely receive a caseneck of the ammunition cartridge, wherein the chamber is connected tothe first opening at the first end of the chamber and the second openingat the second end of the chamber, wherein the chamber is completelywithin the chamber body, and wherein the chamber is adapted to receiveat least a portion of the ammunition cartridge such that the second endof the chamber is forward of a distal end of the case neck of theammunition cartridge.
 2. The interchangeable chamber of claim 1, whereinthe first opening is part of the chamber.
 3. The interchangeable chamberof claim 1, wherein the chamber body is constructed of a unitary pieceof metal.
 4. The interchangeable chamber of claim 1, wherein the chamberbody includes a plurality of gripping members for selective engagementby a tool.
 5. The interchangeable chamber of claim 1, wherein the firstconnector is comprised of outer threading surrounding a portion of thefirst end of the chamber body.
 6. The interchangeable chamber of claim5, wherein the second connector is comprised of interior threadingwithin the second opening.
 7. The interchangeable chamber of claim 1,wherein the second connector is comprised of interior threading withinthe second opening.
 8. The interchangeable chamber of claim 1, whereinthe first opening, the chamber and the second opening are concentric. 9.The interchangeable chamber of claim 1, wherein the second openingextends inwardly to a distal end of the neck of the chamber.
 10. Theinterchangeable chamber of claim 9, wherein a diameter of the secondopening is larger than a diameter of the neck of the chamber.
 11. Aninterchangeable chamber body and barrel for a firearm, comprising: abarrel having an inner end, a muzzle end and a bore extending betweenthe inner end and the muzzle end, wherein the inner end includes aninner connector; a chamber body having a first end and a second end,wherein the first end of the chamber body includes a first connectoradapted to be connected to a receiver of a firearm and wherein thesecond end includes a second connector that is connected to the innerconnector of the barrel; a first opening extending into the first end ofthe chamber body; a second opening extending into the second end of thechamber body; and a chamber within the chamber body, wherein the chamberincludes a body portion extending forward from a first end of thechamber, a tapering shoulder extending forwardly from the body portion,and a neck extending forwardly from the tapering shoulder to a secondend of the chamber, wherein the body portion of the chamber is adaptedto receive a case body of an ammunition cartridge, wherein the taperingshoulder of the chamber is adapted to receive a case neck of theammunition cartridge, wherein the neck of the chamber is adapted tocompletely receive a case neck of the ammunition cartridge, wherein thechamber is connected to the first opening at the first end of thechamber and the second opening at the second end of the chamber, whereinthe chamber is completely within the chamber body, and wherein thechamber is adapted to receive at least a portion of the ammunitioncartridge such that the second end of the chamber is forward of a distalend of the case neck of the ammunition cartridge.
 12. Theinterchangeable chamber and barrel of claim 11, wherein the firstopening is part of the chamber.
 13. The interchangeable chamber andbarrel of claim 11, wherein the chamber body is constructed of a firstunitary piece of metal and wherein the barrel is constructed of a secondunitary piece of metal separate of the first unitary piece of metal. 14.The interchangeable chamber and barrel of claim 11, wherein the chamberbody includes a plurality of gripping members for selective engagementby a tool.
 15. The interchangeable chamber and barrel of claim 11,wherein the first connector is comprised of outer threading surroundinga portion of the first end of the chamber body that is adapted tothreadably connect to an interiorly threaded receiver opening in thereceiver.
 16. The interchangeable chamber and barrel of claim 15,wherein the second connector is comprised of interior threading withinthe second opening and wherein the inner connector of the barrel iscomprised of outer threading that threadably connects to the interiorthreading of the second connector.
 17. The interchangeable chamber andbarrel of claim 11, wherein the second connector is comprised ofinterior threading within the second opening.
 18. The interchangeablechamber and barrel of claim 11, wherein the first opening, the chamber,the second opening and the bore are concentric.
 19. The interchangeablechamber and barrel of claim 11, wherein the second opening extendsinwardly to a distal end of a neck of the chamber, and wherein adiameter of the second opening is larger than a diameter of the neck ofthe chamber.
 20. A firearm with an interchangeable chamber body,comprising: a firearm having a receiver and a barrel, wherein the barrelincludes an inner end, a muzzle end and a bore extending between theinner end and the muzzle end, wherein the inner end includes an innerconnector; a chamber body having a first end and a second end, whereinthe chamber body is adapted to be positioned between the receiver andthe barrel, wherein the first end of the chamber body includes a firstconnector adapted to be connected to the receiver of the firearm andwherein the second end includes a second connector that is connected tothe inner connector of the barrel; a first opening extending into thefirst end of the chamber body; a second opening extending into thesecond end of the chamber body; and a chamber within the chamber body,wherein the chamber includes a body portion extending forward from afirst end of the chamber, a tapering shoulder extending forwardly fromthe body portion, and a neck extending forwardly from the taperingshoulder to a second end of the chamber, wherein the body portion of thechamber is adapted to receive a case body of an ammunition cartridge,wherein the tapering shoulder of the chamber is adapted to receive acase neck of the ammunition cartridge, wherein the neck of the chamberis adapted to completely receive a case neck of the ammunitioncartridge, wherein the chamber is connected to the first opening at thefirst end of the chamber and the second opening at the second end of thechamber, wherein the chamber is completely within the chamber body, andwherein the chamber is adapted to receive at least a portion of theammunition cartridge such that the second end of the chamber is forwardof a distal end of the case neck of the ammunition cartridge.